ACMA proposes new standard for aeronautical equipment
The ACMA is proposing to adopt a new standard for the performance of aeronautical equipment and is seeking comment on three draft instruments:
- Radiocommunications (118 MHz to 137 MHz Amplitude Modulated Equipment – Aeronautical Radio Service) Standard 2012 (proposed 2012 standard);
- Radiocommunications Devices (Compliance Labelling) Amendment Notice 2012 (No. 1) (the draft RLN Amendment Notice);
- Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence Variation 2012 (No. 1).
The proposed 2012 standard
The purpose of the proposed 2012 standard is to adopt the revised Australian / New Zealand industry standard AS/NZS 4583:2010 including Amendment 1, as the standard for performance for aeronautical equipment.
The proposed 2012 standard also revokes the Radiocommunications (118 MHz to 137 MHz Amplitude Modulated Equipment – Aeronautical Radio Service) Standard 2002.
The draft Radiocommunications Labelling Amendment Notice
The Radiocommunications Devices (Compliance and Labelling) Notice 2003 (the RLN) made under section 182 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 requires each supplier of radiocommunications devices falling within the scope of a relevant standard to apply a compliance label to their product prior to supplying it to the market, and to keep prescribed records. Schedule 3 of the RLN references the applicable section 162 standards and compliance levels that apply to the device.
The purpose of the draft RLN Amendment Notice is to amend the RLN to reference the proposed 2012 standard.
The draft Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence Variation 2012 (No. 1)
The Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2006 (the Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations Class Licence) contains the licence conditions, operating requirements and technical parameters associated with the operation of aeronautical radiocommunications and navigation equipment on board aircraft, including recreational aircraft and for certain ground-based aeronautical mobile radiocommunications equipment operating on the common group of aviation frequencies. Equipment operating under the Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations Class Licence must comply with the ACMA standard.
The purpose of the variation to the Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations Class Licence is to reference the proposed 2012 standard within Schedule 1, Part 1.1.
Submissions
Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed 2012 standard, the draft RLN Amendment Notice and the variation to the Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations Class Licence by close of business 29 April 2012.
Submissions should identify:
- the name of the party making the submission
- the organisation represented, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone, postal address and email address.
Submissions can be sent:
by email: aeronautical.standard@acma.gov.au or
by post:
Technical Regulation Development Section
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 13112
Law Courts
Melbourne VIC 8010
Electronic submissions should be in MS Word format.
Publication of submissions
In general, the ACMA publishes all submissions it receives.
The ACMA prefers to receive submissions that are not claimed to be confidential. However, the ACMA accepts that a submitter may sometimes wish to provide information in confidence. In these circumstances, submitters are asked to identify the material over which confidentiality is claimed and provide a written explanation for the claim.
The ACMA will consider each confidentiality claim on a case-by-case basis. If the ACMA accepts a claim, it will not publish the confidential information unless authorised or required by law to do so.
Release of submissions where authorised or required by law
Any submissions provided to the ACMA may be released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (unless an exemption applies) or shared with other Commonwealth Government agencies under Part 7A of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005. The ACMA may also be required to release submissions for other reasons including for the purpose of parliamentary processes or where otherwise required by law (for example, under a court subpoena). While the ACMA seeks to consult submitters of confidential information before that information is provided to another party, the ACMA cannot guarantee that confidential information will not be released through these or other legal means.
